Obama regrets putting children on television

DPA Washington, July 9 (DPA) Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday that he regretted having put his two young children through an extensive interview on a US entertainment show - an extremely rare occurrence for politicians. Obama, who has typically been very protective of his children’s public profile, appeared Tuesday night on NBC’s “Access Hollywood” with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha. The interview had been taped during Malia’s 10th birthday party in Montana July 4, US Independence Day.

Malia, appearing very relaxed before the camera, said that moving into the White House would be “very cool”, joked about her father’s boring speeches and taste in chewing gum, while Sasha, 6, asked when the family would be getting ice cream.

Malia and Sasha have appeared on stage with Obama on the campaign trail but had never spoken publicly until Tuesday’s family interview.

Obama on Wednesday morning admitted he may have gone too far in allowing his children to speak on national television.

“I think that we got carried away in the moment. We were having a birthday party and everybody was laughing, and suddenly this thing cropped up,” he told NBC.

“We wouldn’t do it again, and we won’t be doing it again,” he said. DPA